Clutch



Dec. s, 1925'. 1,564,717

H. F. SCRUBY ET AL CLUTCH Filed May '7. 1923 v Elma/nto@ atten/nutPatented Dec. 8, 1925.

1,564,111 PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE E. scaUBY, or MIAMI, OKLAHOMA, AND CHARLES B. ROGERS, or JOPLIN,M IssoUnI.

CLUTCH.

Application 1aed' may 7,

To Il 11i/:om if may concern.' L

lie 1t know'n that we, HORACE F. SoRUnv and CHARLES B. ROGERS, citizensof the Y State of Missouri, respectively, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clutches, and more particularly to pneumaticclutches.

An object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic clutchparticularly adapted for engine and line shafts and other heavy work.

A further Object is to provide a pneumatic clutch having a receptaclefor air or other fluid that is independent of the other parts ,of theclutch and may be readily replaced with slight loss of time and at smallexpense.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown one embodiment of theinvention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the clutch,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the clutch taken onsubstantially the same line as Figure 1,

Figure f1 is a detail transverse sectional view on line 4--4 of Figure1, and,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the hub or driven member.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral'l designates a shaft tobe driven. A quill 2 is loosely mounted on the shaft and is connected toa suitable source of power by any desired means (not shown). As shown,roller bearings 3 are provided at each end of the quill. A casing i isconnected to the quill by bolts 5 and this casing is provided with aperipheral Harige 6. A ring 7 is secured to the flange by means of bolts8. Thisring is parallel to a portion of the casing and the inner facesof the ring and casing form the clutch facings. These faces are machinedto a smooth finish and serve as friction surfaces.

A hub 9 is secured tothe shaft by a key 10 to revolve therewith. Thishub isa provided with a substantially triangular shaped plate 11, havingpins 12 projecting there-vv 1923. Serial N0. 637,295.

from parallel to the axis of thc huh. A pair ot' disks 13 are mounted onthese pins, the disks being provided with vcentral openings for thepassage of the shaft. The outer ends of the pins are provided withsprings `14 which hear against the outer face ot' one of the disks. Asshown, the springs are retained on the pins hy washers 15 and cotterpins 16. The outer face of the other disk is engaged by a series ofsprings 17. arranged in recesses 18 in the hub. These disks are providedwith friction linings 1f) of cork or other suitable material which areadapted to engage the machined surfaces of the casing and ring when thedisks are forced outwardly. They are normally retained disengaged bymeans of springs 14 and 17. An air bag 20 is arranged between the disks.The air bag extends entirely around the hub and is provided withsuitable openings for the pins 12. A nipple 21 is connected to the airbag and a suitable piece of tubing 22 extends from this nipple to asimilar nipple 23, communicating with a groove 24, in the hub. As shown,tho groove extends entirely around the hub, (see Figurey 4) andcommunicates with the nipple 23 through a passage 25. A ring 26 isarranged on the hub. This ring is stationary at all times and does notrevolve with the hub. It is provided with a passage 27 corn-y municatingwith the groove 24 and with an inlet pipe 28. The face of the ringadjacent the groove is ground to form an air-tight fit. The ring isretained in position by means of a lock nut 27 and a spring washer Thispermits adjustment of the ring to take up wear, if necessary. The hub isprovided with lubrication from a cup 29, carried by the ring and apassage 30 extending through the ring.

In operation, the quill 2 is driven from any suitable source of powerand revolves freely on the shaft 1. When the clutch is disengaged, thehub and shaft are stationary. To engage the clutch, air or other fluidis admitted through the pipe 28 b v means of a suitable control valve(not shown) and passes through the passage 27 of the groove 24. As thisgroove extends entirely around the hub, a portion of it is always incommunication with the passage 27. The 4fluid then passes through theconduit 22 to the air ag 20, lilling the bag and forcing the disksoutwardly against the loa tension of the springs 14. and 17. lThiscauses the friction members 19 to engage the inner surface of thecasing4 and the ring 7, thus forming a friction connection between thedriving member and the hub. As the hub is keyed to the shaft, the shaftrevolves with it when the clutch is engaged. To disengage the clutch,the Huid iseX- hausted from the bag by opening the valve. The springsnormally retain the clutch in disengaged position and balance them sothat there will be no tendency to wobble on the pins. In normalposition` there is `iust sufiicient clearance between the linings 19 andthe friction surfaces of the casing and ring to allow the casing andring to revolve without touching the disks.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thusdescribed our invention, we claim:

In a pneumatic clutch, a shaft, a driving ,member loosely mounted onsaid shaft, a lmb keyed to said shaft, a plate extending from said hub,ins secured to said plate and arranged substantially parallel to theaxis of the shaft, a pair of disks movably mounted on said pins, an airbag arranged between said disks'and adapted to retain them in spacedrelation when air is admitted thereto, friction linings arranged on theouter faces of said disks, a easing earried by said driving member andsurrounding said disks, and springs arranged on opposite sides of saiddisks to normally retain them in inoperative position.

'ln testimony whereof we atiix our signatures.

HORACE F. SCRUBY. CHARLES B. ROGERS.

